The University of Tennessee football team will be staging a quarterback competition this spring to replace Joshua Dobbs. Jarrett Guarantano, Quinten Dormady, Sheriron Jones and Will McBride are in contention for the role.

Fulmer speaks at charity dinner

Former Tennessee football coach Phillip Fulmer spoke at a Catholic Charities fundraising dinner on Thursday night at the downtown Marriott.

Brady Hoke introduced at UT

Brady Hoke was introduced as Tennessee football’s new defensive line coach on Tuesday afternoon.

“A lot of times people are scared. Just a friendly public service announcement I will not eat you, I will not harm you, I just want to say hi,” the 6-foot-6, 315-pound Smith joked on Tuesday after Tennessee completed its 10th spring practice.

Smith is an imposing presence regardless of the location. Although he’s an early enrollee, the former five-star out of University School of Jackson already has the body of a veteran SEC offensive lineman.

Adjusting to the speed of major college football has been Smith’s biggest hurdle in spring camp.

“Obviously being a freshman coming in here, you don’t have high expectations because you are playing against grown men every day,” said Smith, who was the first UT freshman to shed his black helmet stripe this spring. “I am just trying to bring it every day. (Offensive line) Coach (Walt) Wells does a great job of telling me there are going to be ups and downs. You want to keep going straight forward, just keep it going.”

Nearly everyone associated with Smith has praised his relentless work ethic and attention to detail. They all use the phrase “mature beyond his years.” How did the evolution happen?

“It’s a really sensitive subject. When I was 15 years old my mom died, so I got a really good text from one of my personal heroes Artis Hicks (former NFL lineman from Jackson). He taught me, in that time it was tough, but it’s time to man up,” Smith said. “Essentially it was just time for me to grow up in a way. Just losing that person knowing the way I behave, the way I carry myself on and off the field, that is going to determine what type of man I am. That is going to make her proud.”

The changes Smith made weren’t drastic, but they were all done with an eye on his future.

“It was just time to sort of put the childish things aside, really time to get prepare for my future,” he said. “My mom always wanted me to get my degree, to be a young, successful African-American man. So it was time. I had to take the transitional steps. That is why I wanted to enroll early. It was just time for me to make my path.”

When the Vols visited East Tennessee Children’s Hospital in March 2017, Trey Smith spent time holding Paizley Hatcher, a seven-month-old girl who spent her first three months in the neonatal intensive care unit. Afterwards he said the experience was humbling.

Although Smith misses his father, his homesickness has been eased by having his older sister on campus. Ashley Smith, a UT graduate, is the executive assistant for coach Butch Jones.

“If I don’t see her in the office, she will probably give me a call late at night. I might go upstairs to talk to her,” Smith said. “Before we started practice, I had a little bit more time after a lift, I had some extra time to do homework. I would sit up there in the office and just talk a little bit. I think that made the transition five hours away a little easier because I am home and my sister is here.”

Vols’ Trey Smith: I will not eat you

Tennessee early enrollee Trey Smith met with the media for the first time in spring camp on Tuesday after the Vols completed their 10th practice.

Tennessee enrollees for 2017 signing class

Five players have already enrolled at the University Tennessee and are part of the 2017 signing class.

Meet Tennessee football’s early enrollees

The Tennessee football team’s early enrollees met with the local media for the first time on Thursday in the Peyton Manning locker room at Neyland Stadium.

National Signing Day 2017 – Trey Smith

Ryan Callahan of 247Sports and Rhiannon Potkey of the Knoxville News Sentinel talk about Tennessee early enrollee Trey Smith.

VIDEO: Trey Smith speaks after committing to Tennessee

University School of Jackson offensive lineman Trey Smith speaks with the media after committing to the University of Tennessee at University School of Jackson, in Jackson, Tenn., on Tuesday, Dec. 6, 2016.

VIDEO: Trey Smith commits to the University of Tennessee

University School of Jackson offensive lineman Trey Smith commits to play football at the University of Tennessee at University School of Jackson, in Jackson, Tenn., on Tuesday, Dec. 6, 2016.

VIDEO: Trey Smith gives a speech before announcing where he will play college football

University School of Jackson offensive lineman Trey Smith gives a speech before announcing his college pick announcement at University School of Jackson, in Jackson, Tenn., on Tuesday, Dec. 6, 2016.

VIDEO: Trey Smith’s coach speaks about his character

University School of Jackson football coach Rusty Bradley talks about Trey Smith before Smith’s college commitment announcement at University School of Jackson in Jackson, Tenn., on Tuesday, Dec. 6, 2016.

Listen to Smith talk about his plans for his recruitment. BRANDON SHIELDS/The Jackson Sun

VIDEO: Super Seniors – Trey Smith.mov

USJ offensive lineman Trey Smith talks about the importance of his family in his life and in the recruitment process.

Smith has been working at both tackle positions, and Jones said he has the ability to play anywhere on the line. The combination of Smith’s physical stature, mental acuity and work ethic is a total package every coach covets.

“That is what makes him special,” Jones said. “First of all, mentally the ability to pick up and retain information. The competitiveness, the drive to be great and not just on the football field, but in the classroom and in the game of life as well. He loves the weight room. He just wants to do anything possible to be great.”

Smith has benefited by the absence of some injured linemen during the spring. He is trying to take full advantage of the extra work he’s receiving.

Trey Smith (73) does a drill during spring training at Anderson Training Facility Knoxville, Tennessee on Tuesday, March 21, 2017.

“It’s extremely valuable. I know one of my first days we were doing one-on-ones and I was just like, ‘Man. I just need more reps to get adjusted to this,’” Smith said. “Having veteran guys like Jashon (Robertson), Brett (Kendrick), Coleman (Thomas) and Chance Hall really take me under their wing has been great. They have really taught me a lot of good things I have taken to the field and it’s helped me get a lot better.”

Smith returned to USJ two weekends ago to attend prom. He says he misses his friends whenever he sees them do “crazy things on Snapchat.”

But Smith is getting more comfortable at UT every day, even to the more labor-intensive strolls to class he makes while trying not to scare people.

“I told everyone back home the transition has not been too hard in regards to the classroom. My high school did a good job of preparing me for it,” Smith said. “I think the biggest transition honestly is just walking to class. Instead of walking down the hall a few hundred feet, I have to go walk across campus and go up the massive hill to Ayres Hall.”